Did you hear about the owl who spent the day in Bumblewood, perched on a branch just above the Highwood Home & Studio? Here’s a gorgeous photo of it by Loneman Photography! It stayed in one place for about 6 hours delighting hundreds of visitors. We didn’t see it again but heard it most nights in the forest. @loneman_photography

Some humor and sweetness for your day- a small sample of the 5,000+ letters to the fairies of Bumblewood Thicket this year. 🥰🧚

Enjoy the Enchanted Evenings in Bumblewood experience with this beautiful video! Our heartfelt gratitude to our performers: Heather Buck & Heidi Krutchkoff, Montana Ballet Company, Celtic Collective, and Megan Makeever, and our sponsors at Feed Cafe, Lehrkind Cocq Cola, and Ace Hardware. Video: @writegoodbranding

With the falling rain, the veil of enchantment falls over Bumblewood Thicket for another year. All our gratitude to the village who makes this village possible. Video: @writegoodbranding #bumblewoodthicket

This venerable Bumblewood institution houses human artifacts discovered in the thicket and surrounding environs. Here the museum anthropologists attempt to identify the collected human paraphernalia on display. By speculating about the intended purposes, they hope to understand the lives of the extremely inscrutable human species. Research is ongoing, fueled by the wealth of specimens “misplaced” by humans in Bumblewood every day. Anna lives in Sypesagovia with her wordsmith husband Ethan, two elfin children Sawyer and Rhune, a high energy Border Collie named Freya, and an orange fluffball cat named Kelpp. Anna is an architect by trade and spends a lot of her time designing custom homes for the human types. When she escapes the computer you can find her dabbling in artsy things with her creative girls, skiing, hiking, seeking out water in all forms, and reading as much as a working mother can. The whole family loves wandering in their van, getting “lost” and dirt bagging it in spectacular wild spots. Anna has a deep appreciation for the arts and the execution of good craft, and has always loved the whimsical and imaginative, but it was seeing wonder and awe in the eyes of her daughters as they walked Bumblewood Thicket inspired her to participate. Many conversations have sprung up about what the life of a fairy must be like, including what they must think of us big clumsy humans (probably why they’re so shy). #bumblewoodthicket #fairyhouse Photos: Loneman Photography

Bumblewood Thicket will officially close tonight (Sunday 9/21) at 5pm to allow the fairies time to take shelter from the coming storms. Thanks for understanding!

This tranquil sanctuary is the home of Poppy Bloomstone. She adores blossoms of all sorts, collects rare plants, and savors every shade of the color green. Poppy is fond of saying that gardening is like painting with flowers and as you can see, the garden is indeed a work of art. Poppy is fond of all living creatures, even the creepy crawly ones. She spends many happy hours caring for her plants, painting petals, and communing with the creatures who visit her verdant haven. She also enjoys drinking chamomile tea with her dear friends Dahlia Drizzelle and Begonia Bottleby. Fairy Architect Kristin Kekich lives in Bozeman where the mountains meet the sky with her partner Doug, distinguished cat Sir Clarence Donovan McMurphy Kekich the first (aka Larry), crazy dog Michkov (aka Mitch), and about a million plants. Kristin created a small fairy house for a pumpkin carving contest and was overwhelmed by the number of people who asked if she had participated in Bumblewood Thicket. She decided to sign up and this is her first fairy house in the village.  #bumblewoodthicket #fairyhouse Photos: Loneman Photography Photos: Loneman Photography

Bumblewood’s Post Office is the hub for all letters, postcards, and packages sent and received in the village. Have you ever wondered how your letters get to the fairies? Through a very mysterious magical shrinking process which takes place inside the mailbox at the entrance to the village, letters are made tiny enough to be delivered by a team of specially trained snails. Yes, Snail Mail is notoriously slow, but it is very reliable and extremely good value, no matter the weather. Fairies absolutely adore sending and receiving mail, which keeps the snails hopping… er… inching. Mail needing quicker delivery can be sent by Dragonfly Air, but delivery can be a bit erratic, especially on days when the mayflies hatch.  Fairy Architect Catherine Hahola lives in Bozeman with her very supportive husband Clay and their cat Nala, her studio companion and art critic. Catherine loves tinkering with different art mediums and teaching classes. She also loves to read, garden, hike and travel. When she was little, Catherine and her sisters created fairy houses in the woods surrounding their home and The Flower Fairies series by Cicely Mary Barker has provided a lot of inspiration. This is Catherine’s fifth fairy house! She loves the joy of the fairy village and is honored to be part of sparking imaginations in both children and adults. #bumblewoodthicket #fairyhouse Photos: Loneman Photography Snail Mail signs from @wildwood.pyrography

It’s here! The 2025 Commemorative Bumblewood Thicket book is now available only at Country Bookshelf! The book features stunning photos of each fairy structure by acclaimed Bozeman photograph Doug Loneman, stories about each structure written by Anna Visscher in collaboration with each artist, and (back by popular demand) Fae Spy pages to highlight the extra magical details. You can purchase the book in store or online at Country Bookshelf for $20, with the proceeds generously benefitting Random Acts of Silliness and next year’s fairy village.

Dahlia is an avid collector of pretty objects and–like many fairies–she can’t resist anything sparkly, colorful, or curious that crosses her path. A skilled craftsfairy, Dahlia built her curvy cottage using clay dug from nearby riverbanks and decorated it inside and out with her found treasures. She built her furniture too, and is especially proud of her river glass light fixture which glows delightfully at night, making the floor sparkle even more brightly. A painter herself, Dahlia also adores collecting art created by dear friends to decorate her pebbly palace.  Fairy Architect Emlyn Harris lives with Bumi, a boxer mix with a permanent tuxedo and very large ears. She works at the Bozeman Art Museum as the associate director. She teaches art classes at the museum and around town, and maintains her own art practice in sculpture and watercolor. Emlyn has always enjoyed sculpting and creating whimsical things. Emlyn loves the challenge and inspiration of projects that push her creativity, and she participated in the 2024 Crankiefest. Her dad is an architect so it’s also fun to peek into the world of houses on this tiny magical scale. #bumblewoodthicket #fairyhouse Photos: Loneman Photography

These gourdgeous structures contain the Artemisia Collective, a creative community space for fae folk to come and go, creating whatever and whenever they please. Painting, ceramics, and sculpture are housed in specialty pods, with appropriate tools and materials free for the using. Fairies are very artistic, and their homes are often very small, so the studios are used by many grateful Bumblewoodians. Classes and craft nights are very popular as well. Fairy Architect Adeline (Addie) Sydnor is from Southern Maine but lives in Bozeman during the school year. In Maine she has the the privilege of loving three cats: Tippy, Bruce, and Bowie, and two dogs: Sunday and Mabel. When not fairy-ing, most of Adeline’s time is taken up by school. She is in a dual-degree program at MSU studying Studio Art with an emphasis on ceramics and Business Management on a Pre-Law track. Outside of school she loves bird watching, yoga, and cooking. She also works as a waitress at a restaurant downtown. Adeline worked with RAS on a previous project through the art program at MSU and is making a fairy house because she loves the magic. She has always loved the magic of things we can’t see, and fairies are no exception. #bumblewoodthicket #fairyhouse Photos: Loneman Photography

Begonia’s Bed & Breakfast is the place for visiting fairies to rest their wings and enjoy a hot meal. Begonia Bottleby, the kind and gregarious proprietor of B’s B&B, is beloved by all. On the first floor, guests can enjoy Begonia’s famous Hyalite huckleberry pies, scones, and wild mushroom quiches washed down with a cup of Begonia’s signature bergamot tea blend. While not exploring Bumblewood Thicket, guests get comfy in the second-floor bedroom. Begonia’s private quarters are tucked in at the tippy top. The B&B has hosted many a traveling musician visiting to perform at the Timber Tunes Bandstand. Fairy Architects Casey and Lilie Dodge live with their wife/mom Megumi and their adorable but crazy little dog Momo. Lilie is a high school senior. She loves to do aerial dance and play musical instruments. Casey is an engineer. He likes to build and listen to audio equipment and build unusual machines. They have been to Bumblewood Thicket every year and thought it would be amazing to be a part of it this year #bumblewoodthicket #fairyhouse Photos: Loneman Photography

Granny Liora and Grandpa Duck grew up next door to each other, fell in love, and married many, many years ago. Now in their late seven hundreds, they have five adult children and twenty-seven cherished grandchildren. With such a large family there is always someone coming and going, but the Moonflower home is always calm and filled with love. Granny enjoys knitting, sewing, drying flowers, and making delicious meals for anyone who stops by. She gives the best hugs and smells like spice and sugar. Grandpa, known to most in Bumblewood as Uncle Duck, relishes woodworking and showing young fairies how to use his tools.  Moonflower Cottage was created by Caroline Knowles and Samantha and Paul Holdorf. Samantha and Paul welcomed their first grandchild this summer and hope to honor grandparents everywhere with this love-filled fairy home. Samantha is an office manager for a local construction business and feels lucky to work with her husband Paul. Her hobbies include soaking up every moment of summer warmth by hiking, camping, traveling, and sitting in her hot tub, even when it is 90 degrees outside. She enjoys cooking, hosting family gatherings, and belly laughing while watching cat videos. By day Paul is carpenter working in construction management. After hours he might be found sauntering through a forest with his camera, searching for magic moments with wildflowers or later, the majestic night sky. Caroline can often be found with yarn in her hands and stories on her mind. By day, she weaves professional relationships and ideas together—knitting connections, threading themes, and helping others learn from one another. By night, she’s got her knitting needles going, spinning coziness and good vibes into sweaters for the people she loves most. Caroline is always on the lookout for wonder and whimsy—and her next nap. #bumblewoodthicket #fairyhouse #cozy Photos: Loneman Photography

Timber Tunes Bandstand is a popular music venue and gathering place for the residents of Bumblewood to unwind, listen to music, and dance the night away. The house band changes names frequently but is currently called the Pixie Stixs. The Stix are an alternative funky jam band playing anything from rock to folk, the more danceable the better. Anya Edelweiss plays piccolo in the band and Prune Crane occasionally sits in on banjo. Fairy Architect Julia Funderburk Julia grew up in Bozeman and lives on the MSU campus. She enjoys visiting her parents’ house to catch up with dog Otis and cat Molly (and parents and two siblings). She is a freshman at MSU studying Pre-Medicine and Studio Arts. She enjoys creating whimsical things with fabric, paint, wood, and ceramics. Her hobbies include skiing, biking, hiking, rafting, attending music festivals and concerts, and envisioning fairies rocking out on a stage. Julia has been making fairy houses for fun since she was four years old. Seeing Random Acts of Silliness’ installations around Bozeman inspired her get involved. #fairymusic #fairyvillage #bumblewoodthicket Photos: Loneman Photography

This comfy chalet is the home of sisters Freya and Anya Edelweiss. The Edelweiss family is responsible for spreading the first frost of winter each year, an ancient duty recently entrusted to young Freya and Anya. The winter-loving sisters adore their job and anything frosty or frozen. They revel in being outdoors, especially when it’s snowy, but they also stay cozy on winter nights knitting and reading by the fire. Anya plays piccolo in a local band and Freya teaches snow yoga at Breathe & Bloom Studio. Fairy Architects Leah and Lauren Watling live in Bozeman with husband/dad, Troy, Lauren’s little sister Sara, and their beloved malshipoos Pippa and Dash. Lauren is in high school, and Leah works as an accountant. They both love biking, floating, skiing, and spending time outside. They were inspired to build a house for Bumblewood Thicket because they love the magic and sense of wonder that Bumblewood brings to our community. If Leah had a fairy name it would be Marigold Starburst and Lauren’s would be Maya Papaya. Their dream fairy house would be a cozy cottage surrounded by flower fields with lots of nooks for reading and a lazy river for floating.  #fairyhouse #bumblewoodthicket #fairyvillage 📸: Loneman Photography

This tranquil bohemian oasis hosts an open-air studio for breathwork and yoga. It is also the home of Bluebell Dewdrop, who teaches a variety of private sessions and classes. A lifelong learner, Bluebell travels regularly to learn more about ancient fae movement and spiritual traditions. She shares this knowledge with her community through regularly scheduled free events. She is a gentle guide whose presence turns every moment into a quiet celebration of breath and mindfulness.  Artist Kelly Kohlberg lives in Bozeman with her muse, her four-year-old daughter. Kelly is an artist and art teacher. She also loves to hike, garden, and connect with her community. Kelly created a fairy home two years ago. She was inspired to participate again in Bumblewood by past fairy villages and seeing how much her daughter loved them #yogastudio #bumblewoodthicket #fairyvillage 📸: Loneman Photography

Known for its cutting-edge modern art shows and sculpture garden, the O’Leaffe Gallery has represented some of the finest fairy artists of our time. Vincent Van Grove, Fleada Kahlo, and River Banksy have all shown their work in the gallery alongside local artists such as Dahlia Drizzelle, Maia Marigold, and Millie Highwood. Despite its grand reputation, the gallery is anything but snooty. Gallery director Georgia O’Leaffe welcomes visitors to stroll and flit through the sculpture garden and gallery whenever they need to be inspired and immersed in art, something all of us could use from time to time. Artist Lauren Mitro lives in Bozeman and loves making all kinds of art. She also enjoys making her own clothes, shooting photography, and going to see live music. She practices architecture and spends any remaining free time outside. #bumblewoodthicket Photos: Loneman Photography

This ramshackle mobile home belongs to Prune Crane. Prune spends most of her time out on the water with Fang, her beloved Caterpillar Hunting Beetle, while her trusty house roosts nearby. In the evenings she uses the day’s catch to cook up a pot of spicy mosquito gumbo, pan seared minnows, or a good old-fashioned stonefly nymph boil. Although sometimes given a wide berth due to her rough manners and solitary ways, she’s not unfriendly. She just prefers her own company. Prune distills her own moonshine and if you catch her in the right mood, she might be persuaded to share some. She has even been known to supply parties if she likes the music. Flitty Witty Dirt Band and Stevie Nymphs are some of her favorites, and recently her girlfriend Midge introduced her to the music of Chanterelle Roan. Fairy Architect Emmi Kat Johnson lives in a cozy burrow with her dogs Koda and Riley and cats Pigeon, Hotdog, and Ghouligan. She spends most of her time making whimsical things with her sister for their art business, Star Berry Hollow. They can be found at fantasy and pop culture conventions, renaissance faires, and art markets not too far from Bumblewood Thicket. When she’s not making art, Emmi is probably hunting for bugs and bones for art. She does a lot of art. She first saw Bumblewood Thicket two years ago and immediately fell in love with the community, the art, and all the possibilities in this tiny village! Last year she created The Sugar Pine Bakery and has amassed fairy house ideas that should hold her over for the next lifetime #fairyhouse #bumblewoodthicket 📷: Loneman Photography

Support Local Artists & Take Home a Piece of the Magic! Fifteen of our Bumblewood Artists are selling their pieces to a new home after the Bumblewood Installation is complete.  Purchases are made directly with the artist and all proceeds benefit the artist, not Random Acts of Silliness. If you’d like to take home a piece of the magic, you can view the list of pieces for sale and prices at the link in our bio!

Have you noticed the abundance of crystals in Bumblewood Thicket? Only the Pippels know the concealed location of the Crystal Cave, discovered by Piper Pippel many hundreds of years ago. Passed down through generations of Pippels, this snug cottage is now the home of Talus and Opal Pippel and their children Flicker, Finn, and baby Jasper. Talus, Flicker, and Finn collect the crystals, never more than they need, from the cave walls. They are cleaned, sorted, and sometimes ground into a fine glittery dust. The crystals are shared with villagers and used to trade with neighboring communities. While baby Jasper observes intently, Opal tends the front and helps fairies pick out just the right gem or sparkle dust for the task or occasion.  Meet Fairy Architect Jennifer Christy! Jennifer lives in Gallatin Gateway with her husband and biggest supporter John, an amazing Australian Shepherd named Lola, and a black cat named Derp. Lola loves to forage for fairy materials and is Jennifer’s very best friend. Jennifer loves to hike and play down by the river and is always gathering materials and rocks. She has a sapphire claim and enjoys digging in the dirt looking for Yogo sapphires. Her other hobbies include leather work, beading, lapidary, painting barn quilts, beekeeping, and photography. She also drives full-time for Uber. #bumblewoodthicket #fairyhouse Photos: Loneman Photography

Most days Twinkletoes Dance Hall is merely the home of Agripina Calagui and her daughter Evelina. Agripina is a gifted dancer and teacher, and Evelina loves to create lavish party decorations. Agripina delights in teaching aspiring dancers to waltz, mouse trot, quick step, and more. Every Saturday night the Calaguis transform their home into a glowing ballroom and host dances for the community. Once in a blue moon they invite fairies from across the region to participate in the Twinkletoes Dance Competition, with a grand prize of a coveted pair of glittery golden slippers! Fairy Architect Pinky Labog Keightley was born and raised in the Philippines and now lives with her husband near downtown Bozeman. They have three cats name Wesley, Jonathan, and Elsa. Jonathan and Elsa are her quality control assistants. Elsa loves to sleep inside the fairy houses when Pinky isn’t working on them, so she ended up making another one just for Elsa. Pinky loves painting, photography, mixed media, and art journaling. Last year she created the Urukay Summer Home in Bumblewood Thicket. She loves the way the fairy village makes people happy and is delighted to be participating again this year. #fairyvillage #fairyhouse #bumblewoodthicket

This beautiful boutique and atelier are run by the lovely Lacey Silkwillow. Lacey is a terrifically talented designer and dressmaker. She was raised by her fairy mother and Borrower father in the walls of a human home inhabited by a seamstress. From the shadowed corners, she learned to sew and design by secretly watching the seamstress. When the urge to alter the seamstress’ rather clunky designs became too much for her and she longed to share her own designs with others, Lacey left home and set up shop in Bumblewood Thicket. She quickly became the go-to gal for bespoke bridal wear in the village and beyond and has a millipede-long waiting list. Artist Jasmine Lilly lives in Bozeman with her partner Patrick and rescue pups Pip and Penny. Jasmine is a creative hummingbird. She owns Jasmine Lilly Creative and works predominantly in the wedding industry as a florist, designer, and bridal boutique owner. She is also a freelance graphic designer, and illustrator. Her hobbies include reading romance novels, foraging, watercolor painting, pressing flowers, and rock hunting. Jasmine has surrounded herself with magic and whimsy that calls to the world of the fae for as long as she can remember. As a little girl she spent hours in the garden creating fairy worlds filled with wild stories and foraged objects. As an adult she continues to revel in the magical minutia of nature and has been known to spend hours on a riverbank collecting rocks or in a wildflower field cataloguing and pressing flowers #fairyvillage #fairyhouse #bumblewoodthicket Photos: Loneman Photography

Many have asked how the village of Bumblewood twinkles so brightly at night. At last, we have the answer! Glow Worm Gardens is a nursery for the village’s hardest-working light sources: glow worms. Glow worm husbandry is a delicate and energy intensive art, and the little wigglers must be carefully tended by members of the Glow Worm Keepers Guild (GWKG). Here at the nursery, eggs are incubated and hatched, then the tiny grubs are transferred to clematis blossoms where they mature to maximum wattage before being placed around the village.  Artists Steve and Wren Allison- Bunnell live in an intentional community in Bozeman with their spouse/mom and three cats with no bad habits. They love using digital tools to make fairy houses that straddle the line between looking completely natural and seeming vaguely otherworldly. Miniatures have been one of Steve’s special obsessions for as long as he can remember. Wren works at the American Computer & Robotics Museum and likes to spend their free time giving obsolete computers a new lease on life. This is Steve and Wren’s fourth year creating a fairy structure. #bumblewoodthicket Photos: Loneman Phtograpjy day photos/ night photos Steve Allison Bunnell

Welcome to the Twirlybird Carousel, owned and operated by Lamella Olyphant. You might think that a carousel powered by snails would be painfully slow, but not so at the Twirlybird! Hop in the saddle and hold on, as it can really get a-twirling! If you haven’t lost your lunch, be sure to enjoy a sweet treat provided by Flossie’s Candy Emporium and take a moment to explore the menagerie playground. Nobody knows where the animals in the menagerie came from, and Lamella won’t tell. Rumor has it that if you turn your back, they might wake up and move around. If you look out of the corner of your eye, you might just see a wing flap or a tail wiggle! Twirlybird was brought to life by fairy architect Mary Demro. Mary lives in Bozeman with her husband Aaron, young sons Gordon and Wally, and their Samoyed dog Moby. Mary is an architect at A&E Design, so this is an extension of what she already does, although at a much smaller scale than usual! When not working on houses both large and small, she and her family love being outside, exploring Montana, and chasing the kids around. They have been going to Bumblewood Thicket for several years and have greatly enjoyed it. Mary created Flossie’s Candy Emporium last year. Photos: Loneman Photography #fairyvillage #bumblewoodthicket

Dallas and Mya live in Belgrade with their three children Isla, Landon, and Sawyer, an Aussie-Doodle named Sadie, and a black cat named Lucky. Dallas is a woodworker and Mya is a ceramic sculptor. Dallas builds furniture and Mya’s sculpture often focuses on the maternal figure and the joys and sorrows of motherhood. They love camping and finding new ways to inspire their kids to be more creative. Bumblewood has long been one of their favorite events of the year. They were in awe of the level of craftsmanship and creativity that the fairy architects always seemed to deliver and the kids talked about the houses for months. They are delighted to participate this year and hopefully bring others the same joy that it has brought them. #fairyhoise #bumblewoodthicket photos: Loneman Photography

If you happen to hear a faint but captivating tinkle whispering in the wind, you may be very near a wind chime created by Sylph Carillon. Sylph spends her days weaving magic into her enchanting chimes. Each contains a melody of the natural world: the soft rustling of leaves, the gentle hush of a summer breeze, and the distant laughter of a babbling brook are just a few of the tunes contained in her wind catchers. Sylph’s home was created by artist Amber Wilson. Amber is a Bozeman native and MSU Bobcat who lives with her chocolate lab Wilbur. In her free time, she enjoys crafting and enjoying the Montana outdoors, doing everything from paddle boarding to skiing. Amber has always enjoyed making miniatures and Fern Gully was a favorite childhood movie. This is the fifth structure she has created for Bumblewood Thicket! #windchimes #bumblewoodthicket Photos: Loneman Phtograpjy

Welcome to the Bellflower Community Center! Founded by old friends Violet Hornswoggle and Edna Eggletine, the Bellflower is a non-profit community center for older fairies but is open and welcoming to all. Elders often gather with their families and friends in the cozy common room to share stories, read, and play games. Marathon sessions of pea knuckle and crabbage have been known to go into the wee hours of the night, fueled by bottomless cups of chicory coffee and herbal teas from the cafe. The thrift store takes donations from the community to fund operations and special events.  Created by the Moeckel family–Tory Elena, Tessa, Juliet, and Bill. They have spent a lot of time outside hiking, camping, canoeing, and building fairy houses in nature. Tory made Augustus P. Bumble’s home last year and is excited to have the whole family participate in creating the one this year. They have all been long time believers in fairies and magic, so it’s wonderful to tap back into that whimsical joy as adults. #fairyhouse #fairyvillage #bumblewoodthicket Photos: Loneman Photography

Do you love the Bumblewood Thicket tradition? Please show your support with a donation to the Pixie Dust Fund. Your dollars help cover artist stipends, installation upkeep, signage and more. We’re just a small way on our goal to raise $12,000 to support next year’s village. Donate via our website (link in bio) or find us on Venmo!

Joy around every corner! Visit Bumblewood Thicket before it dissapears into the mists on September 22. The Fairy Village is located at Glen Lake Rotary Park. Bumblewood is free and open to all. Visit the Random Acts of Silliness website for all the details to plan your magical visit. Photos: Loneman Photography #publicart #bumblewoodthicket

Such a joy to have middle school students doing some fairy- inspired creative writing in the Thicket today!

Enchanted Evenings begins tonight! Join us on the trail from the Bozeman Beach parking lot into Bumblewood Thicket for free performances of storytelling, dance, and music. Saturday September 6,13,20 from 5:30-7:30pm. Photo: Story Teller Heidi Krutchkoff in a ‘Story Apron’ created by @norascoutstudio

Bumblewood Thicket is open! Visit the Fairy Village: September 5-21 at Glen Lake Rotary Park. Bumblewood is free and open to all. Visit our website for all the details to plan your magical visit (and remember weekends are extremely busy so come on a weekday if you can!). Photo: Loneman Photography (second photo is the Twirlybird Carousel by Mary Demro) #publicart #bumblewoodthicket

Bumblewood Thicket opens Friday! Here are a few tips to help you plan your visit…..

“To Bumblewood!” The veil of enchantment lifts Friday! Visit Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village: September 5-21 at Glen Lake Rotary Park. Bumblewood is free and open to all during the park’s hours of 5am-11pm. Music and Lyrics: Cody Henderson, Vocals: Cody, Alice and Evelyn Henderson Irish Whistle and Flute: Amanda Andrews Fiddle: Casey McGowan Guitar, Synthesizer: Cody Henderson #bumblewoodthicket #fairyvillage #artontrails #publicart

Thanks to our volunteers from @osmconstruction (Bumblewood Thicket Sponsors!) and other wonderful volunteers for their work to get the trails ready to welcome the fairies! 8 sleeps to go!

On Saturday nights - the trail into Bumblewood will be filled with fanciful music, dance and stories! Featuring performances from Montana Ballet Company, Megan Makeever, Heather Buck and Heidi Krutchkoff, and the Celtic Collective... don’t miss this magical addition to a visit to the fairy village. This is a free (no tickets), trail based performance made possible by our amazing sponsors Feed Cafe, Owenhouse Ace Hardware, and Lehrkinds!

Thomas (@meristem_services ) and Danielle completed 20 fairy architect check-ins over the last few weeks.… and wow was that fun. Prepare to be blown away and delighted Gallatin Valley! Visit Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village: September 5-21 at Glen Lake Rotary Park. Bumblewood is free and open to all during the park’s hours of 5am-11pm. #bumblewoodthicket #publicart #communityart

Volunteers needed to get Bumblewood looking sparkly! ⏰ 9-12 on Thursday August 28th 🪏 Storm Debris, Weed, Trash Cleanup 🧚 For Fairy and Trail Lovers Age 12+ Signup and get more info at the link in the Random Acts of Silliness bio.

Scenes from a day with Fairy Architects… here’s Fae, the scale doll all our architects use. (Pictured from Anna Stewart, Julia Funderburk, and Leah and Lauren Watling) The 2025 Bumblewood Architects are working away in a whimsical whirlwind to make magic for you- Gallatin Valley! Visit Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village: September 5-21 at Glen Lake Rotary Park. Bumblewood is free and open to all during the park’s hours of 5am-11pm. #bumblewoodthicket #artontrails

We’re Hiring a new Executive Enchantment Director! AND, our intrepid founder, Danielle Thomsen, is moving to a new role as Creative Director!! Because RAS has grown beyond anything we could have imagined when we started creating little joyful moments in our community 5+ years ago, we are excited to bring more magic to the Gallatin Valley with this more strategic team of organizational leadership team. If you’d like to learn more about the position, you can do so at the link in bio.

A new song for Bumblewood: “Come Away” Music and Lyrics: Cody Henderson Vocals: Emma Rathe Irish Whistle and Flute: Amanda Andrews Guitar and Synthesizer: Cody Henderson Visit Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village: September 5-21 at Glen Lake Rotary Park. Bumblewood is free and open to all during the park’s hours of 5am-11pm. This video features footage of just a few of the amazing fairy structures in Bumblewood over the years, created by a wide variety of local artists. Please DM for details on any particular structure. #bumblewoodthicket #fairyvillage #artontrails #publicart

Happy 1 year being Random and Silly to our Wizard Jessica! She makes everything work like magic and we treasure her 🧙✨💖

Can you guess what type of fairy structure artist Catherine Hahola is making for Bumblewood this year? Enjoy Catherine’s work along side 19 other amazing pieces created by Gallatin Valley artists and makers in Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village: September 5-21 at Glen Lake Rotary Park. Bumblewood is free and open to all during the park’s hours of 5am-11pm. We highly recommend visiting on a weekday to avoid the crowds! Visit the link in bio for more details to plan your visit! #bumblewoodthicket

It’s that time again. Bumblewood is just around the corner! With over 140 volunteer shifts to fill and opening day creeping closer, we’re sending up a (sparkly) SOS. 🆘✨ Link in Random Acts of Silliness bio! We need help with: 🪏 Cleanup Day Pre-Village - Removing brush and trash to prepare the trail! 🌼 Weekday Friend of the Fairies - Greeting visitors and fairy path tending... these days tend to be quieter. 🍄 Weekend Friends of the Fairies - Support and welcome the crowds... these shifts tend to be very busy! 🎭 Enchanted Evening Volunteer - Welcome and support the audience and performers in magical trail song, story, and dance. If you’ve ever visited the village and felt the magic, this is your chance to keep it alive. When you volunteer as a Friend of the Fairies with us, you get to step into the forest not just as a visitor, but as a maker of the magic!

Artist Jennifer Christy’s studio is the stuff fairy dreams are made of. Thanks for the visit @jc.art_and_soul #bumblewoodthicket #fairyvillage

The third annual crankie fest isn’t until November, but our artists are already working away on their pieces. This weekend they completed their 3rd and final story workshop with the wonderful Janet Fox. We can’t wait to share their original works with you this fall!

✨ Joyful Update Alert ✨ The Random Acts of Silliness team is overjoyed to share that Anna Visscher is in remission after almost a year battling Leukemia. Those of you who know Anna won’t be surprised to know that she spread silliness and beauty throughout her cancer journey- see pics of the goggly eye pop ups around the hospital and the paper flower bouquets that Anna made to decorate her hospital room and then gifted to her team of caregivers. Anna helped found RAS and is a true creative visionary. We are so grateful to welcome her extraordinary talents back to our little world of magic and silliness.

Mark your calendars for MAGIC! #bumblewoodthicket

The Story Stand and artist Sharon Glick will be outside the Belgrade library tomorrow (Friday the 13th) 2-4pm to celebrate summer-reading kickoff. Hope to see you there with your wackiest story ideas! Photo: @towsendcollective

Help us give a sparkle-infused welcome to Cassandra Maffey! As our Chief Pixie Dust Sprinkler for the 6th annual Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village, Cassandra is going to help the village run like magic! We asked Cassandra about her new role and personal fairy tendencies: ‘As a mom, I have rediscovered how seeing the world through the eyes of children invites everyone to be our best selves. The world of Bumblewood Thicket is a place for us all to remember the part of ourselves where magic is possible, smallness is powerful, and the definition of beauty is authenticity. I am excited to help steward this experience for our many visitors and volunteers, in hopes that everyone can carry the light of joy and hope that comes from having visited a magical place. If I had a fairy house, it would be nestled high in a sunny tree, overlooking the forest and mountains. It would be woven of soft moss and decorated with sparkly things that cast rainbows everywhere. And there would be slides. So many slides. I’m actually kinda bummed that my real house doesn’t have a slide.’ Welcome Cassandra! Be sure to give her a wave of your wing when you see her on the trail in September.

A beautiful day in the forest with fairy architects! #bumblewoodthicket

Most fun storage unit ever? #Publicart

Construction for Bumblewood is officially underway! (Almost) All the fairy architects gathered tonight for a crash course in glue, pixie dust, and squirrel deterrents. We couldn’t be more delighted to support this gorgeous group of humans as they bring magic to the Gallatin Valley in September. Wish them well as they embark on their journey! #bumblewoodthicket

who helped us have a successful and joyful Give Big! We were thrilled to receive donations from 184 people (our goal was 117)! Special thanks to everyone who helped spread the word about our work, GVLT and The Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company for hosting some extra silliness, and to One Valley Community Foundation for such a joyful, impactful, and well run event! We love our valley!

We are excited to share that Random Acts of Silliness (RAS), along with its partners at City of Bozeman and Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT), were presented with the 2025 Trails and the Arts Advancing Trails Award from American Trails at the recent International Trails Summit in Madison, Wisconsin. Thanks to our incredible community of artists, volunteers, donors, and pixie dust fans who have made this such an extraordinary annual event…. And mark your calendars for Bumblewood 2025 (Sept 5-Sept 21)! Photo: Jamie Saitta, City of Bozeman Recreation Manager; Danielle Thomsen, Random Acts of Silliness Executive Enchantment Director; and Chet Work, Gallatin Valley Land Trust Executive Director.

We had a fantastic time celebrating Give Big Gallatin Valley with serving up custom stories at @rockymountaintoycompany Special thanks to artist Sharon Glick for her fabulous illustrations and to Roxy (Wren Garverick), Bennet Drozic, Molly Hannan, and Beezy Noonan for some very silly and delightful stories for all-ages!

It’s time! Give Big Gallatin Valley starts at 6pm on Thursday and goes through 6pm on Friday. If you want to keep FREE, joyful, wildly creative events like the Lantern Parade, Fairy Village, Crankie Fest, Cabinets of Curiosity, Magic Monster Show and more going - consider a donation to help us reach our goal of $20,000 from 117 individual donors. You can find our Give Big page at the link in our bio. Most importantly - jump on the Give Big website and checkout all the amazing non profits at work in our community. Thanks to One Valley Community Foundation for their extraordinary work putting together this event. ♥️Gallatin Valley ♥️ #givebiggv

We’re so excited for Give Big on Thursday & Friday! We hope you’ll remember the ARTS in your giving. Special shout out to our partner organizations who help make all the random silliness possible ♥️ Opera Montana Gallatin Valley Land Trust Raison D’être Bozeman Art Museum Bozeman Public Library Foundation Bozeman Symphony Friends of Story Mansion And The Sweet Pea Festival for the Arts #givebiggv

Lucky Roxy is joining lots of 3rd graders for a sneak peek at Opera Montana’s Hansel & Gretel today!

Random Acts of Silliness and The Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company are celebrating Give Big with Joy and Play! Friday 3:30-6 we’ll be serving up piping hot, super- silly stories made to order, with a sweet illustration from artist Sharon Glick to finish off your meal. See you there!!!

Congrats to the cast and crew of Roxy presents Hansel and Gretel…. Monster Style! The show was fantastic! Inspired by suggestions from the audience the first show ended w the big finale song ‘Eat More Candy’ and the second ended with ‘Don’t Trust Ducks’. Great advice all around! Now get your tickets for Opera Montana’s all-ages production of Englebert Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel in May! @opera_montana

Give Big, the Gallatin Valley’s annual day of giving presented by One Valley Community Foundation, is coming up on May 1 & May 2. This is a great day to show your support for Random Acts of Silliness and ALL the amazing organizations that make our valley so special by donating, sharing the love on social media, or celebrating at the many fun events taking place all over our community. Join us and celebrate the spirit of our community! You can learn more and visit our Giving Page via the link in our bio. (Photos by Loneman Photography)

4 months til Bumblewood!

This weekend only! It’s Monster Magic Meets Opera with Roxy Presents: Hansel & Gretel! Our spin on the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel is presented in partnership with @opera_montana and includes a talented cast of actors and singers with live improvised music by Cody Henderson of @wildartsbozeman. Written and directed by Sarah Henderson. Starring Wren Garverick @wrenarf, Charlotte Mae Ellison @charlottabotta, Emerald Hart Ullman @ermylikewhat, and Leandra Hill @leandrahillagency Storybook created by Marla Goodman @mtmgoo Costumes by Nora Tjernagel @norascoutstudio Reserve your spot now via the ticketing link in bio. Saturday April 26 10am and 11:30am at Gallatin High School. Tickets are FREE but reservations are recommended. #bozemanevents

We did a test run of our new story-stand today and (drumroll please)…. It works! Piping hot, super- silly stories made to order. With a sweet illustration from artist Sharon Glick to finish off your meal. Hungry for a good story? Come see us at the story-stand May 2nd from 3:30-6pm at the Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company. #popupart #storytelling #streetartist

Rehearsal BTS - for Roxy Presents: Hansel & Gretel. DO NOT miss this extraordinary cast do improvised opera- Magic Monster style!!! Tickets are FREE but reservations are suggested via the link in bio. Saturday April 26th only!

Proposals for our ‘Into the Forest’ Crankie Fest (November 2025) are due tomorrow! This is a paid opportunity for Gallatin Valley artists, with original music scoring available as well as technical and performance support. Please find all the details at the link in bio (and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions!) #montanaartist #crankieart Photos: Loneman Photography (Riley Logan performing at our 2023 Mythical Creature Crankie Fest)

Awww Shucks! Today Random Acts of Silliness was honored to receive a Citation of Merit from the Montana Trails, Recreation and Park Association! We are incredibly grateful to the larger community who has embraced our work and made it possible over the last 5 years: our staff, volunteers, donors, and the makers of the magic- the incredible artists we’ve worked with! It is a privilege to share art on the beautiful canvas of the Gallatin Valley’s parks and trails- and we are forever indebted to the partnerships that make it possible. From the nomination ‘Founded during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Random Acts of Silliness emerged as a beacon of light, offering imaginative ways to uplift and unite the Bozeman community. Their inaugural project, The Menagerie of the Imaginary, transformed Story Mill Community Park into a wonderland of playful, interactive art. The overwhelming love and enthusiasm from the community fueled their commitment to bringing ongoing creativity and delight to public spaces across the Gallatin Valley and beyond.’

Are you passionate about making special events work like magic? Seeking a charismatic, flexible, detail-oriented person to oversee the day to day operations of Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village. This is a temporary position. Visit the link in bio (we’re hiring) for all the details and application information!

Be a part of the magic! We are currently accepting architect submissions for the 2025 Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village. This opportunity is open to all adult makers and artists in the Gallatin Valley - stipend provided. Your work will bring joy to thousands of visitors! See details at the link in bio. Deadline April 7 #bozemanartist #publicart #montanaartist #fairyvillage

Join renowned author and book-coach Janet Fox to explore story structure, character, emotion, and how to keep language and art in sync. This presentation is great for any artist curious about in telling a story with their art, and highly recommended for artists considering participation in our 3rd Annual Crankie Festival. Signup for this FREE presentation at the link in bio. Saturday March 29 2:30-4pm. Bozeman Public Library, Cottonwood Room.

Open call for performers: Your talents can enhance the magic of Bumblewood Thicket at ‘Enchanted Evenings in Bumblewood’ On Saturday evenings during Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village (September) we are going to line the trails with magical music and performance inspired by the fairies. 📋 application form & details at link in bio 📅 submit ideas by April 1 💵 artist stipend provided Photos: Fairy Grove Performance 2024 by Loneman Photography

Musicians, dancers, actors and performers all- submit your ideas now to be part of ‘Enchanted Evenings in Bumblewood’ On Saturday evenings during Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village we are going to line the trails with magical music and performance inspired by the fairies. 📋 application form & details at link in bio 📅 submit ideas by April 1 💵 artist stipend provided

Calling all artists and makers in the Gallatin Valley: we are seeking 20 whimsical fairy architects for the 2025 Bumblewood Thicket! 📋 form & guidlines at link in bio 📅 due April 7 💵 artist stipend provided ❓zoom on 3/12 if you have questions ✨magic & joy rating = 😍🧚💥 #bozemanevents #bozemanartist

Are you an artist interested in participating in the 2025 Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village? Join Random Acts of Silliness’ Executive Enchantment Director for an informal zoom about the process of applying and participating in the village. No question is too small 😉! Wednesday March 12 6-7pm Advanced signup required via the link in our bio!

Huge thanks to our incredible lantern parade sponsors! Williams Plumbing, Design 5 Landscape Architecture, and Sarah Day Bozeman Real Estate, you light up our community—literally!

Donate today! It takes a lot of magic (and work!) to set the Gallatin Valley aglow with joy and creativity. Consider a gift (link in bio or find us on Venmo) to Random Acts of Silliness today to keep our new lantern parade tradition alive. We are a 501c3 non profit who provides all our programming to the Gallatin Valley for free- and we need your support to do that! Thanks to Loneman Photography for always capturing the joy and beauty ♥️ @loneman_photography

Gallatin Valley - thank you for welcoming the Menagerie of the Imaginary with open hearts. To the hundreds of people who organized, created, volunteered, donated, sang and so much more - thank you for the gift of light and joy in our community ♥️. Until next year. Special shoutout to @thingumatheatre for teaching us to build the beautiful giants Echo and Amelia. #communityart #lanternparade

Just got a sneak peek of the MSU art student lanterns and 🤯! Don’t miss these amazing creations at the Menagerie of the Imaginary Lantern Parade Feb 22, Gallatin Regional Park- 6:15 #lanternparade #publicart

On this snowy morning, we’d like to share that planning for Bumblewood 2025 is underway (fairy call for art coming your way soon!).

Come Glow With Us! Mark your calender for February 22nd, 6:15 at the Gallatin Regional Park. Visit our website to download the full ‘Know Before You Glow’ document. Most importantly- parking is limited to please carpool and leave yourself ample time find a spot and walk! #lanternparade #bozemanevents

Come Glow With Us! Make sure your calender is marked for February 22nd, 6:15 at the Gallatin Regional Park. Visit our website (link in bio) for all the details to ‘Know Before You Glow’ #lanternparade #bozemanevents

Smiles on the loose Gallatin Valley: the snow pile faces are out! Should we tell you where they are or let you enjoy the discovery? If this is your first encounter with these silly friends, the plug-and play (play play play play) pieces were created by artist Marla Goodman using upcycled pool noodles, sleds, trash cans and the like. We couldn’t resist bringing them out in this super snowy winter! #joyfulart #snowart #spreadjoy

Your creativity is blooming beautiful Bozeman! Flower workshop complete ✔️ Participants worked from a design and 3D printed components from artist Steve Allison-Bunnell and took it in so many unique directions! Huge thanks to our workshop sponsor @peacedesign and our home away from home @studio.wheelhouse

Meet Amelia the Curly-Tailed Bird- Horse! Amelia comes from the imagination of local 7 year old Isla. Amazing Amelia spends her days flitting and fluttering about among the cotton candy clouds high above her cliff top home. She adores tasty snack snakes caught with mighty thwaps of her powerful tail, and crafts delectable concoctions juiced from cloud berries. If you listen very carefully as you nod off to sleep, you might hear the distant snort-caws of Amelia saying goodnight to her friends. You might also hear the tinkle of her footfalls as she heads to bed in her cozy cave to dream of exotic earthlings and prancing ponies. You can fly with Amelia at the Menagerie of the Imaginary Lantern Parade at Gallatin Regional Park on February 22nd. Isla provided field-notes on Amelia’s habits and disposition as seeds for her backstory written by RAS wordsmith Anna Visscher. Amelia was created at a workshop led by Andrew Kim of Thingumajig Theatre. Images: inspiration drawing from Isla, Loneman Photography images from Amelia’s first outing! #lanternparade

Another fantastic workshop complete! Led by the Resourceress herself- Kenda Minter @kendalouwho - we made stars, moons, and owls (upcycling pizza and beverage boxes) to fly through the Sky Realm of the lantern parade. We are always blown away by the creativity and skill of the makers at these workshops! Huge thanks to our workshop sponsor @james_bond_dental_arts and @studio.wheelhouse for hosting! #recycledart #lanternparade

Meet Echo the Tassel- Finned Dragoon! Echo comes from the imaginations of Middle Creek Montessori’s 1-3 grade Aspen Class. Effervescent Echo is adept at camouflage and concealment, which helps them evade fierce predators like the beak-nosed hornswoggle. Disguised as flotsam and jetsam, Echo snoozes the day away in the warm, shallow waters off the coast of Honah Lee Island. As night falls, their phosphorescent scales glow and their long antennae sway as they begin to hunt for jelly eels and smardines. Tassel Finned Dragoons have often been mistaken for dolphins as they leap and dive, echo-locating with a high, burbling bup-bup-bup. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse Echo in your daydreams. You can swim with Echo at the Menagerie of the Imaginary Lantern Parade at Gallatin Regional Park on February 22nd. Echo’s story started with the MCM class and was fully realized by RAS wordsmith Anna Visscher. Echo was created at a workshop led by Andrew Kim of Thingumajig Theatre. @thingumatheatre Images: inspiration drawing from the aspen class, Loneman Photography images from Echos first outing! @loneman_photography #lanternparade

Fish workshop complete! 30 finished fantastical fish- concept created by the amazing Tory Moeckel- all ready to swim in the Water Realm of the Menagerie of the Imaginary on February 22nd! Thanks for hosting us Studio Wheelhouse! Thanks to @hatchpediatrics for sponsoring this community workshop! #communityart #lanternparade

Volunteer to make the lantern parade GLOW! We simply can’t do this event without your help! We’ve got spots for volunteers to help: ✨greet & direct parade spectators ✨parade setup ✨parade cleanup …. And more! Visit the parade link in bio and click on ‘volunteer opportunities’ to learn more. The parade is February 22nd at 6:15 at the Gallatin Regional Park.

Welcome to the world Echo and Amelia! Imagined by Montana kids, these creatures were brought to life by an incredible team of artists - guided by Andrew Kim of Thigumajig Theatre @thingumatheatre and assisted by artist Andrew Young. Echo is a Tassel-Finned Dragoon, imagined by a 1-3 grade class at Middle Creek Montessori. Amelia is a Curly-Tailed Bird- Horse imagined by 7 year old Isla. We can’t wait for you to meet them at The Menagerie of the Imaginary Lantern Parade at the Gallatin Regional Park on February 22. #lanternpuppets #communityart Photos: Loneman Photography @loneman_photography

Day 10 (final day!) of our giant lantern puppet workshop with Andrew Kim of Thingumajig Theatre @thingumatheatre assisted by artist Andrew Young. These artists have been working around the clock at Montana State University Art Department’s Graduate Studios to create something spectacular for our community: Matt Cameron, Sarah Smith, Lu Willis, Kelsi Tjernagel, Emma Johnson, Rachel Ingle, Jade Lowder, Nora Tjernagel, Thomas Dunning, Tory Moeckel, and Steve Allison-Bunnell. We can’t wait to introduce the new creations!

Lecture by Andrew Kim! January 15th, 6pm MSUs Cheever Hall Room #215 Andrew has created and performed puppet and mask plays, parades and events for over 30 years… don’t miss this exciting presentation on his notable career in street theater and giant puppetry! This presentation is free, no reservations required. Presented by Random Acts of Silliness and MSU’s School of Art Foundations Program. @thingumatheatre

Andrew Kim (@thingumatheatre ) imaginary creature giant lanterns day one! In Montana, in a former pig barn, in a snow storm = pure joy!

Two Andrews is better than one! Delighted to have Andrew Kim here from the UK/ @thingumatheatre and Andrew Young from Minneapolis to lead an awesome group of local artists in creating two giant imaginary creature lanterns. The fun begins tomorrow.

Thank you Bozeman, Bozeman Magazine, and all the incredible artists we get to work with- you earned this! Photos: Loneman Photography. Fairy House by Kenda Minter, MSU art students with their creations at the lantern parade.

Set your calendar to GLOW on February 22nd! The lantern parade is back with a new theme and some incredible giant lanterns from international artist Andrew Kim, MSU art students, local artists and community members! Live choral music from our friends at the Bozeman Symphonic Choir, Threshold Choir, Montana Woman’s Chorus, Whittier Elementary Choir (and more!). Thanks to our incredible sponsors @sarahdaybznre @design5la and @willplumb for helping us bring back this special event. Visit the link in bio to learn more. Signup for our public workshops will begin in mid January. #bozemanart #communityart #bozemanevents